Which nearby cities are best for a weekend getaway from Durban?

For an overnight or weekend trip from Durban, consider Dundee, Vryheid, Newcastle, Phuthaditjhaba — far enough to feel like a change of scene but still an easy hop.

How do I get from Durban to nearby cities?

Most nearby cities are reachable by car, train or bus; for the longer hops a regional flight can be quicker. Tap any city in the table for its full distance, drive-time and flight-time breakdown, or use our distance and flight calculators for a specific route.

Cities Near Durban

Cities near Durban, South Africa: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Mpumalanga, KwaDukuza, Pietermaritzburg. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.

The closest notable city to Durban, South Africa is Mpumalanga, about 24 mi (38 km) away — roughly 46 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.

City	Distance	Drive	Flight	Best for
Mpumalanga	24 mi / 38 km	46 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
KwaDukuza	40 mi / 64 km	1 hr 11 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
Pietermaritzburg	42 mi / 67 km	1 hr 15 min	Drive/rail	Day trip
Port Shepstone	70 mi / 113 km	2 hr 6 min	Drive/rail	Day trip / overnight
Richards Bay	96 mi / 154 km	2 hr 14 min	Drive/rail	Day trip / overnight
Dundee	126 mi / 203 km	2 hr 56 min	Drive/rail	Weekend getaway
Vryheid	145 mi / 233 km	3 hr 22 min	Drive/rail	Weekend getaway
Newcastle	160 mi / 257 km	3 hr 43 min	48 min	Weekend getaway
Phuthaditjhaba	162 mi / 261 km	3 hr 46 min	48 min	Weekend getaway
Mthatha	179 mi / 288 km	4 hr 10 min	50 min	Weekend getaway

Day trips from Durban

Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Mpumalanga, KwaDukuza, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.

Weekend getaways from Durban

Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Dundee, Vryheid, Newcastle, Phuthaditjhaba, Mthatha. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.

Getting around

Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.

Distance calculator Flight time calculator

Frequently asked questions

Notable cities near Durban include Mpumalanga, KwaDukuza, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay. The closest is Mpumalanga, about 24 miles (38 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.

Cities Near Durban

Day trips from Durban

Weekend getaways from Durban

Getting around

Frequently asked questions

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